Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 19:30
And it was so, that all that saw it said, There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt unto this day: consider of it, take advice, and speak [your minds].
30. After unto this day the LXX. cod. A etc. contains an addition which no doubt formed part of the original text. Restoring this addition to its proper place at the beginning of the verse we may read: And he commanded the men whom he sent, saying, Thus shall ye say to all the men of Israel, Did ever such a thing as this happen, from the day that the children of Israel came up out of Egypt unto this day? Consider of it, take counsel, and speak, And it was so, that all that saw it said, There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt unto this day. Note that both clauses end with unto this day: the first fell out through homoioteleuton. Consider of it speak is much more suitable as the Levite’s message than as the exclamation of those who discussed the summons.
came up out of the land of Egypt ] The Exodus is frequently referred to as the birth-day of Israel’s national life, cf. Jdg 6:13 , 1Sa 8:8, 2Sa 7:6, Amo 2:10; Amo 9:7, Mic 6:4 etc.
The outrage at Gibeah is referred to in Hos 9:9; Hos 10:9-10. The text of the latter passage is uncertain and difficult; ‘their two transgressions’ is generally taken as an allusion to the want of hospitality and the immoral conduct of the men of Gibeah. The Targum on Hos 10:9, however, intiverance. The connexion between (3) and (4) is illustrerprets ‘the days of Gibeah’ as referring to the setting up of the kingdom in Gibeah in the time of Saul; and some modern scholars accept this view. It is true that Israel, which avenged the crime with such righteous zeal, could not fairly be blamed for it; on the other hand, the Benjamites of Gibeah formed a part of Israel, and the entire nation would, in accordance with ancient ideas, be considered as involved in the guilt (cf. Jdg 20:10 b). It is not necessary to suppose that Hosea based his allusion on the present narrative; the tradition which he knew may have differed in some respects.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 30. There was no such deed done nor seen] They were all struck with the enormity of the crime; and considered it a sovereign disgrace to all the tribes of Israel.
Consider of it] Literally, Put it to yourselves; take counsel upon it; and speak. This was the prelude to the council held, and the subsequent operations, which are mentioned in the following chapter.
I HAVE passed over the abominable transactions of this chapter as lightly as I could, and shall make no apology to the learned or unlearned reader for leaving some things untranslated.
What a blessing are wholesome laws, and a vigorous and attentive magistracy! These wretched people had no form of government, and every one did what was right in his own eyes: their own eye (corrupt inclination) was the measure and rule of their conduct; and how bad a rule, the abuse and murder of the Levite’s wife testify. Reader, bless God for a civil government.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
No such deed; so wicked and abominable.
Consider of it, take advice, and speak your minds; let us meet together, and seriously consider, and every one freely speak what is to be done in this case.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And it was so, that all that saw it,…. The dismembered pieces of the dead body, and were made acquainted with the cause of it; for so Josephus b says, he gave the messengers a command to declare what was the cause of her death:
said, there was no such deed done nor seen, from the day that the children of Israel came out of Egypt, unto this day; meaning not so much the cutting in pieces the dead body, and sending it to different parts; though that was awful and shocking, as the complicated wickedness committed at Gibeah, which was the cause of it, to which reference is had, Ho 9:9 this is an observation of the writer of this book, Samuel; but what follows are the words either of those the Levite sent, who were bid to deliver them to those to whom the pieces were sent, or else of the persons present at the time of the delivery of the pieces to them, or whom they got together to disclose the matter to:
consider of it, take advice, and speak your minds; well weigh and think of the matter within yourselves, consult with one another what is proper to be done, and give your opinion freely without any reserve.
b Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 5. c. 2. sect. 8.)
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(30) The verse shows that the Levite had successfully gauged the depths of moral indignation that still lay in the hearts of his countrymen. The story of the deed thrilled through all Palestine and awoke a determined desire for retribution upon the guilty inhabitants of Gibeah. The whole nation felt the stain and shame (Hos. 9:9; Hos. 10:9).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
30. No such deed done nor seen It has its only parallel in the history of ancient Sodom, long before Israel’s exodus from the land of Egypt. Compare Gen 19:1-11.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jdg 19:30 a
‘And it was so, that all who saw it, said, ‘there was no such deed done nor seen, from the day that the children of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, to this day.’
The pieces would be delivered by messenger. The Levite may indeed have gone to the central sanctuary and arranged for them to go from there. It was from there that the call to action ought to go. And the messengers would take a report of what had happened and what the pieces meant. They were a call for justice on the terms of the covenant, on penalty of death for failure to give it.
The comment about ‘such a deed’ probably refers to the actions of the men of Gibeah (as the Septuagint makes clear). Certainly they became a byword for sinfulness (Hos 9:9; Hos 10:9). But it may have been a reaction to the horror of what they saw.
Jdg 19:30 b
‘Weigh it up, take counsel, and declare what you think.’
It was a call for action and judgment in legal jargon. They were to weigh up the situation, discuss the matter together and then come to a decision.
The whole episode demonstrates how low morals in Israel had fallen. The Levite’s attitude to his concubine wife, his failure to protect her, the lack of hospitality from anyone except the old man, the behaviour of the men of Gibeah, all reflected the level to which society had fallen.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
REFLECTIONS
Though the several contents in this chapter lead to the review only of the sin, and consequently the sorrow of our nature, yet my soul, if the contemplation of man’s ruin by sin, prompts thy heart to admire and embrace yet more affectionately the glorious recovery by grace, and brings thee home to Him, who hath done away sin and all its real consequences by the sacrifice of himself, even this humiliating subject will form the foundation for greater praise. Yes! thou blessed Jesus, I see in thee, and thy great redemption work, the glorious scheme of salvation, prepared long before the fall, and in the fulness of time completed, for to repair the desolations of many generations, and to restore perfect order among all the works of God. I behold the Almighty God and Father founding this plan of unequalled mercy, in the ancient settlement of eternity, and thou generously undertaking it when neither Levite nor Priest, nor righteousness, nor offering, could stand in the least stead to bring sinners to God. And what is it now in time, but the same everlasting righteousness arising out of Jehovah’s everlasting love, by which the salvation of thy church and people is secured forever. Hail! thou holy, precious, pure, and spotless Lamb of God! Oh may my soul find constant relief, and every suited encouragement, in reposing on thy righteousness, when at any time, in thyself or others around me, I feel or see the sad consequences of a sinful state. Lord! I would lay low before thee, under a deep sense of sin, and this body of death I carry about within me, while taking refuge under the incense of thy merits, and seeking redemption in thy blood. Be thou to me, O Lord, all I need; wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption: and may all my glorying be in thee, O Lord.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jdg 19:30 And it was so, that all that saw it said, There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt unto this day: consider of it, take advice, and speak [your minds].
Ver. 30. There was no such deed done. ] So that it grew to a proverb, “They have deeply corrupted themselves, as in the days of Gibeah.” Hos 9:9 And that this should be done so soon after Joshua’s death, is a just wonder.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
consider: Jdg 20:7, Pro 11:14, Pro 13:10, Pro 15:22, Pro 20:18, Pro 24:6
Reciprocal: Job 34:4 – choose Pro 6:34 – General Jer 2:10 – and see
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jdg 19:30. All said, There was no such deed done or seen, &c. All who saw it, and heard the relation, were so moved with horror at it that they called upon each other to consult and give their opinion in what manner justice should be done upon the lewd and inhuman Gibeathites; as follows in the next chapter.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
19:30 And it was so, that all that saw it said, There was no {l} such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt unto this day: consider of it, take advice, and speak [your minds].
(l) For this was like the sin of Sodom for which God rained down fire and brimstone from heaven.